Damien Abraham of Fucked Up
SXSW 2008. So many bands, so little time. Where else can you enjoy so many amazing bands while agonizing about missing so many other equally awesome shows at the same time? Thankfully since many of the performers played as many as ten shows throughout the five days of the festival- they were sometimes more impossible to miss than not.Here are some of the many highlights throughout the festival (listed alphabetically).
Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg (Various): It seemed that all I had to do in Austin was turn around and there was British political songsmith Billy Bragg, playing a tune and charming all who happened to listen. (Now how do I get that to happen in my “real” life?) Bragg seems as comfortable chatting up the crowd from the stage as one might be with their best friends, both in front of hundreds at the Cedar Street Courtyard on Thursday afternoon, and again when I happened to pass The Thirsty Ear on Saturday afternoon, where the Utne Reader was hosting a day party at the small, friendly pub. In between his own songs, he paid musical tribute to Woody Guthrie and the Shangri-La’s and gave the audience a firm lesson on the world view of American football (“runny runny catch catch”) versus soccer.
Coliseum’s Mike Pascal
Coliseum (Red 7): How many drummers have you seen that play so fast and hard that they have to stand up and catch their breath after each song? Only one comes to mind for me. Coliseum’s Chris Maggio, who often springs up from his drum stool to hit even harder and was unfazed by pseudo-heckling of the audience as they jokingly taunted “Faster, pussy!” Flanked by hair thrashing bassist Mike Pascal and brooding singer/guitarist Ryan Patterson, the Louisville, Kentucky hardcore trio blasted through their set of aggressive hardcore tunes fast enough to give their most hard rocking audiences a case of whiplash.
Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson and the Explosives (Stubbs): In what many in attendance agreed was his best performance in recent memory (and you’ve gotta have faith in the die-hards), rock’n’roll legend and hometown favorite Roky Erickson shone on stage at Stubbs BBQ on Saturday night. From opening number “Cold Night for Alligators” through their triumphant rendition of “You’re Gonna Miss Me,” Erickson’s unmistakable vocals and the band’s high energy set left everyone grinning like little kids at their first concert (at least in the front of the amphitheater- I later heard the sound in the back of the venue left much to be desired). Also in attendance was Erickson’s mother Evelyn, who watched behind the security gate in front of the stage.